Weight and height correlating device



Feb. 14,1939. D. FLEISCHER 2,146,728

WEIGHT AND HEIGHT CORRELATING DEVICE Original Filed Aug. 11, 1936 4Sheets-Sheei. 1

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,lo g 65 n 56 Feb. 14, 19.39. D. FLEISCHER WEIGHT AND HEIGHT CORRELATINGDEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 11, 1956 I gwucm Feb. 14,1939. D FLElScHER 2,146,728

WEIGHT AND HEIGHT CORRELATING DEVICE Original Filed Aug. 11, 1936 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UN! STATES FATE WEIGHT AND HEIGHTCORRELATING DEVICE 95,347. Divided and this application January 6, 1937,Serial No. 119,187

3 Claims.

, This invention relates to card selection and ejecting apparatus, andis a division of applicants copending application Serial No. 95,347,filed August 11, 1936.

It has been common practice in the past to provide weighing scales withcharts or tables indicating the average or normal weights for men andwomen of difierent heights. These charts, however, are seldom referredto, since they are slightly complicated and do not engage the attentionof persons using the scale.

It is the general object of the invention to provide a method of andapparatus for correlating factors of weight and height, to determinewhether persons using the apparatus are of underweight, overweight, orof normal weight.

It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus embodyinga weighing scale, a height-measuring scale, and means for automaticallycorrelating the weight and height scales to indicate overweight,underweight or normal conditions.

It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus forcorrelating the measured height and weight of persons using theapparatus, and

for-delivering to different classes of such persons cards bearingappropriate indicia. Overweight persons will receive one type of card,underweight persons another type of card, and persons of normal weight athird typeof card. These cards, for example, may set forth that thepersons receiving them are underor overweight, or normal, or may haveprinted therein other information. They may contain, for example,suggested diets-the cards for the underweight persons bearing buildingup diets, the cards for the overweight persons bearing reducing diets,and the cards for the persons of normal weight bearing normal diets. Thecards may set forth health hints, regarding exercise, sleep, the drinking of milk, etc, and may advise seeing ones doctor and dentist.

The operation of the apparatus is simple and entirely automatic, yetfascinating, and by stimulating general interest in maintaining properweight, tends to improve the public health.

The normal weight of men is somewhat greater than the normal weight ofwomen of the same height. Accordingly, a feature of the inventionresides in the provision of an adjustment for selectively adapting theapparatus for use by men and women.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a pointeror the like, for indicating at a glance whether a person is overweight,

underweight, or of normal weight, and of means for delivering a card orthe like bearing a permanent record of the condition and/or suggestionsto the recipient of the card, as outlined above.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of a first elementwhose position is determined in accordance with the weight of a person,a second element whose position is determined in accordance with theheight of the person, and an element actuated by said first and secondelements, the last mentioned element controlling the operation of anindicating device and selectively controlling the operation of carddelivering mechanism.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of novel cardselecting and delivering means.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of weight andheight measuring apparatus, a plurality of groups of cards, means forselectively delivering cards from one of said groups in accordance withthe relation between the weight and height of a person using theapparatus and in accordance with the adjustment of an additionalcontrol. Thus, for example, there may be provided several groups ofcards,ia'll of which are adapted 'to be delivered to overweight persons,and a control for delivering cards from diiferen't of these groups atdifferent times. If desired, the mechanism may be adjusted so that cardsfrom different groups will be delivered on different days of the week.Hence, if diets are printed upon the cards, monotony may be avoided andinterest in both eating the proper food and operating the machine willbe sustained.

Other-objects and features will be apparent from theiollowingdescription to be read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. 1 :is a front elevational view of an apparatus embodying theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view, broken away in part, on an enlargedscale, of a portion of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is .a side elevational view of the selector device of .Fig. 3;

:Fig. '5 illustrates an electrical circuit adapted to control thedelivery of selected cards;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the card chute and ejectorapparatus;

Fig. '7 is a front elevational view of a portion of the apparatus ofFig. 6;

Fig. 8 illustrates a modified circuit arrangement, adapted to beemployed in a modification of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modified height measuring apparatus;and

Fig. 10 shows a window closing arrangement suitable for use with theinvention.

Referring now to the drawings, l0 designates a cabinet having aheight-measuring member ll extending upwardly therefrom. Member II israised or lowered until its associated arm l2 rests upon the top of thehead of a person standing on the platform l3 of the scale. Member llextends within the interior of the cabinet, guided by guides l4, whichengage the member II with sufficient frictional force to hold the memberI l in any position to which it may be moved. A portion of the side ofmember II is provided with gear teeth l5 adapted to engage'thegear-toothed hub I6 of height-indicating wheel l1. As the member II. ismoved up and down within the guides 14, the wheel I! is rotated. Theperiphery of the wheel I! is suitably marked with height scale l8, inorder that a person operating the device may read his height on thescale l8 through a window 19 formed in the front of the cabinet. WindowI9 is preferably provided with a suitable indicating mark, such as'arrow20, to facilitate reading of the scale. If desired, the adjustment ofthe member Il may be efiected by turning knob 2|, mounted'exteriorly ofthe cabinet on the shaft 22 which carries the hub l6. On the side ofgear-toothed hub 16 which is opposite member H is mounted member lie,with its gear teeth I511 engaging the teeth of hub I6; Member He isguided by guides Ma. Thus, when member H rises member He will belowered; and when member II is lowered member llc will rise.

Pull-rod 23 is connected to the weighing platform l3 in any desiredmanner. A wide variety of suitable constructions, well known in thescale art, may be employed, and hence, no further description of thisportion of the apparatus (which does not, per se, form part of theinvention) is deemed necessary. It is sufficient for present purposes tounderstand that as a person steps upon platform [3, the pull-rod 23moves downwardly'a distance corresponding to'the weight of the person.That is, the pull-rod 23 is moved downwardly whenever a person stepsupon platform l3 and after the pull-rod 23 has come to rest with aperson on the platform l3, the final position of the pull -rod willdepend upon the weight of the person. The heavier the person, thefurther down the pull rod will be moved, and the lighter the person, thehigher will .its final position be. Thus, lever 24,. actuated bypull-rod 23, is rotated about pivot 25 and moves member 26 upwardly to aposition determined by the weight of the person upon platform I 3.Member 26 is provided with gear teeth 21 which engagethe gear-toothedhub 28 of weight-indicating wheel 29. Thus, the position of wheel 29 isdependent upon the weight of a, person standing upon the platform 53.The wheel 29 is provided with a weight scale 30a, which may be readthrough a window 30 formed in the cabinetlfl. Preferably, the Window 36is provided with a suitable indicating mark, such as arrow 3|. Guides3la hold and support member 26 in substantially the same manner thatguides i4 hold and support member H, except that the member 26 is notfrictionally engaged by the guides 3la, but is free, and sufiicientlyheavy, to follow the movements of lever 24.

Mounted on the opposite side of the hub 28, with its gear teeth 32engaging the teeth of hub 28, is member 33, guided by guides 34, similarto guides 3| a. Thus, when member 26 rises, member 33 will be lowered;and when member 26 is lowered, member 33 will rise.

It will thus be seen that the height-controlled wheel H and theweight-controlled wheel 29 are controlled by and through substantiallysimilar elements; and that the height-responsive element He and theweight-responsive element 33 are also controlled by and throughsubstantially identical combinations of apparatus, except that theelement II is controlled in accordance with the height of persons usingthe apparatus while the element 26 is controlled in accordance with theweight of persons using the apparatus.

Member 33 is preferably formed in two sections, 33a and 33b, slidablewith respect toeach other. Through a slot 35 in section 33a extends apin 36 carried on section 33?). A spring 31, attached to pin 36 and tosection 33a, tends to draw the section 3317 downwardly towards section33a. The upper end of section33b is provided with a shoulder 330, whichextends over the top of section 33a and which, due to the influence ofspring 37, tends to. abut thereagainst. Positioned between the top ofsection 33a and shoulder 330 is a cam 38, preferably of oval shape. Aflexible cable 39 is connected to the cam 38 and is adapted to changethe position of'the cam in response to changes in the position of theknob 30, on the front of the cabinet Ill, to which the other end of thecable is attached. When the device is used by a man, the knob 40 isturned to turn the cam into such position as to provide maximumseparation between the sections 33a and 33b; and when a woman uses thedevice, the knob is turned to provide minimum separation betweensections 330. and 33b. In this way, applicant adapts the device to useby both men and women, although the normal weight of men at variousheights is higher than that of women. It is to be noted thatnotwithstanding this adjustment, the scale 29, as viewed through window30, will always show the true weight of persons, male or female, usingthe device.

Pivotally connected to member He by pin H a is control member 4|. Thetop of member 33 is provided with an extension arm 42,-carrying pin '43,which extendsthrough a slot 44 formed in the control member 4!. It'willbe seen, therefore, that the-position of the control member is adaptedto be controlled by both member He and member 33, or, in other words, bythose members which are respectively height-responsive andweight-responsive.

The pin-and-slot arrangement of member II is designed 'to accommodatechanges in distance between shoulder 33c and pin Ha which occur as thedevice is used.

The apparatus is so designed that when a person whose weight is normalfor his height, steps upon the platform l3 and-adjusts the member II inaccordance with his height, the control member H will be horizontal;This is equally true whether the person is relatively tall and heavy orrelatively short and light, since both member Ha and member 33 move upand down, and since the inclination of member 4| with respect to thehorizontal is controlled by the relative, rather than the absolute,positions of the members I I0 and 33.

When an underweight person steps upon the platform the member 33 will bemoved downwardly through the :action of pull-rod 2.3, lever .24, member2-6 and ;gear 28. However, the final positioncf member 33 will be.higherin the case-of :such underweight person than :it would be if aperson of normal weight were using the :device. Accordingly, when themembers I Iczand =33 are in their final positions of adjustment, member33 will be higher with respect to member 1| lc than it would :be if aperson of normal weight were using the device. This will .tilt themember 4|, :as seen Fig. 8,, downwardly toward the left. :Member -41|carries a pointer :or the like '45, and this pointer would then move tothe region marked underweigh on a scale 46 adapted to bezseen through awindow 41 formed in the cabinet I0. In the case of an overweight person,the .final adjusted position of member 33 with respect :to the member II0, will be lower than in the case 201 a person of normal weight, .andthe member 4:! would tilt downwardly toward the right, as seen in Fig..3. This would shift pointer 45 to the region marked overweight on scale46. In the case :of a person of normal weight, pointer 45 will point tonormal on scale 46.

Control member 4| carries a mercury switch 48 and a mercury switch 49.The mercury in switch 48 is adapted to complete a circuit between thecontacts thereof when the control member 4| shifts to underweightposition, and the mercury in .switch 49 is adapted to complete a circuitbetween the contacts thereof when the control member 4| shifts tooverweight position.

Suitably mounted within the cabinet II) as by cross support 5|], are aplurality of racks designated in Fig. '7 as EI, .52, and '53. Rack 5|may contain cards intended for underweight persons, rack 52 cards forpersons of normal weight, and rack 53 cards for overweight persons. Thesides of the racks provide feed chutes, and at the bottoms -of the racksare provided sets of angles '54. As best seen in Fig. 7, angles 54provide channels, open at front and rear, through which cards may beejected from the racks. Preferably, angles 5 depend from the rackthrough adistance not substantially greater than the thickness of onecard, so that only one card may :be ejected from the racks at a time.The rear of the racks 53!, 5'2, and 5.3 feed into card delivery chute.55, to the interior of which a door 56 in the front of cabinet 10provides access.

Suitably mounted on swinging frame 51, pivotally mounted as at 51a, area plurality of ejector units, 58, .59 :and 60. Each of thesecomprises anelectro-magnet and an ejector arm adapted to be attracted by itsassociated magnet when the magnet is energized. As shown in .Fig. -6,the ejector arm 6| is pivotally mounted at 6.2, and when the magnet 63is energized, the ejector arm is drawn upwardly to the magnet from itsnormal inoperative position in which the ejector arm rests upon stop 64.When a coin is inserted in push slot 65 (which is preferably of thetype, Well known in the art, which functions only after a coin has beeninserted therein) and the slot is pushed in, the swinging frame 51 ispushed rearwardly by the slot against the tension of spring 66. Thoseejector arms which are in inoperative position will pass by the underside of the card racks with which they are associated, but the ejectorarm which is raised into operative position by the energizing of itsassociated magnet will abut and eject the lowermost card in itsassociated rack. In Fig. 7, the ejector arm of ejector unit 159 is shown:in raised, or operative, position, while the ejector arms of units :58and 26.0 are in inoperative position.

In :a preferred form of the invention, switch "67 of .Fig. ;5 isassociated with the push slot 65 in such manner that the switch isclosed automatically by the pushing of slot 65.. Such push slot andswitch arrangements are well known inthe :art and have .long beenavailable commercially. :One such arrangement, illustrated in Fig. 6 mayconsist of an insulated contact 51a carried on the frame 5'5, andadapted to be abutted by insulated contact G'Ib, carried by push slot65,, when the slot is pushed in during operation .of the :device.

In operation, a person will stand upon the platform 53, adjust themember I I, put a .coin in the push slot and push the slot. The relativepositions of members 33 and He will determine the inclination of controlmember 4|; and if the person is underweight, an electrical path will beestablished between the contacts of switch 48. Thus, relay 58 will beenergized to attract its armature, closing a circuit through the magnetof ejector unit :58, and raising the ejector arm of unit 58 intooperative position. Thus, the backwardmotion of frame .51, responsive tothe'pushing of slot 65, causes the ejector arm of unit 53 to eject acard from rack 5|, suitable for delivery to underweight persons, intothe delivery chute :55. When the pressure on push slot 65 is released, aspring returns it to its normal position (shown in Fig. 6), opening thecontact or switch 61, the forward motion of frame 52' being limited by asuitable stop, such as'5'Ib.

If an overweight person uses the device, the switch ii? will be closed,the relay '59 will be energized, and its armature attracted, the magnet.ci ejector unit Ell will be energized, and a card from rack 53,suitable for delivery to overweight persons, will be ejected into thedelivery chute.

If a person of normal weight uses the device, the magnet o-f ejectorunit '58 will be energized, through an-elect'rica'l circuit includingthe armatures-of the relays t3 and 59. Thus, a card from rack 52,suitable for delivery to normal persons, will be ejected into thedelivery chute.

In addition to receiving a suitable card, a person using the apparatusis enabled to tell at a glance by looking at windows It, 39 and ll,

weight, his height, and whether he is overweight, underweight, or ofnormal weight.

In Fig. '8 is illustrated a circuit arrangement utilized in a modifiedform of theinvention to deliver cards from different predetermined racksor groups at different predetermined times. In Fig. 8, seven ejectorunits 58a58g' are provided for underweight persons, and seven ejectorunits Eta-66g, are provided for overweight persons. As described above,each ejector unit serves a different rack of cards; and the physicalarrangement of the apparatus of Fig. 8 may be entirely similar to thatof the apparatus above described. The operation of these dilierentejector units is controlled through seven-way switch ill. Thus, byadjusting switch Hi, the operator may select the racks from which hiscard, will be delivered. This control arrangement is especiallybeneficial when the cards are printed with menu suggestions. In thiscase, each difierent position of the switch 10 will deliver a difierentoverweight or underweight diet for a different day of the week. Theswitch it may be operated by an attendant, and changed daily; or it maybe operated by persons using the machine, and subject to their control,so that they may obtain a complete set'of seven cards by inserting sevencoins.

The distance between the top of the head and the level of the eyes issubstantially the same for all adults. Thus, the height of the eye levelserves as a measure of the height of a person by the application of afixed correction. In Fig. 10, applicant teaches how to make use of thisfact, to eliminate the arm 12, the used which is sometimes inconvenientdue to the necessity for removing hats, the disarrangement of hairdress,etc. Suitably carried on member ll of Fig. 3 (or member Nb of Fig. 9) isa sight member 11. Sight member 11 preferably contains a relatively longhorizontal sight passage 18. When the passage 18 is opposite the levelof the eyes, and then only, will the user be enabled to see through thepassage 18; and this, therefore, will indicate a proper adjustment ofthe member II. The scale 18 is calibrated to show the actual height ofpassage 18 above the platform 13 plus the distance between the top ofthe head and eye level. Any similar sight arrangement may be used, andis deemed within the purview of the invention.

To prevent the use of the apparatus except upon the insertion of a coin,the arrangement shown in Fig. 11 may be employed. Directly behind theheight-indicating window i9 is an opaque card or the like 19, anddirectly behind the weight-indicating window 30 is an opaque card or thelike 86. Cards 19 and 80 may be joined by a connecting member 8|,resting upon stop 82. Solenoid 83 is energized when switch 61 is closed,and draws upwardly bar 84, connected to member 8!, thus raising thecards 19 and 80 above the level of-the Windows l9 and 30 to permit viewof the height and weight scales. Upon the opening of switch 61,theicards l9 and 80 are permitted to fall in front of the scales.

Since many modifications maybe made in the invention without departingfrom the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in theforegoing description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings beregarded as illustrative only, applicant limiting himself only asindicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, means for supporting a first series of groups ofcards, means for supporting a second series of groups of cards, andmeans for supporting another group of cards, an ejector element movablymounted proximate each of said groups of cards, a plurality of solenoidsadapted to control the operation of said elements, means for selectivelyenergizing one of the solenoids associated with said first series ofgroups of cards or of one of the solenoids associated with said secondseries of groups of cards, or said solenoid associated with said othergroup of cards, means for predeterminately and selectively controllingthe energization of solenoids associated with said first series ofgroups of cards and for predeterminately and selectively controlling theenergize.-

tion of solenoids associated with said second series of groups of cards,and meansfor actuating said ejector elements, whereby the ejectorelement associated with an energized solenoid will eject a card from thecard group with which it is associated.

2. In combination, means for supporting a first series of groups ofcards, means for supporting a second series of groups of cards and meansfor supporting another group of cards, an ejector element movablymounted proximate each of said groups of cards, means for actuating saidejector elements, a plurality of solenoids adapted to control theoperation of said elements, master control means for predeterminatelyand selectively controlling the energization of solenoids adapted tocontrol the operation of ejector elements mounted proximate said firstseries of card groups and for predeterminately and selectivelycontrolling the energization of solenoids adapted to control theoperation of ejector elements mounted proximate said second series ofcard groups, and means for selectively energizing a predetermined one ofthe solenoids associated with said first series of card groups, or apredetermined one of the solenoids associated with said second series ofcard groups, or a solenoid associated with said other group of cards.

3. An apparatus-of the character described including, in combination,means for supporting a first series of groups of cards, means forsupporting a second series of groups of cards, means for supportinganother group of cards, a plurality of ejector elements, means foractuating said ejector elements, .said ejector elements being movablymounted with respect to said actuating means and being adapted to ejectcards responsive to changes in position of said ejector elements, eachejector element being movably mounted proximate a group of cards, aplurality of solenoids adapted to control the positions of saidelements, master control means for predeterminately and selectivelycontrolling the energization of solenoids adapted to control theposition of ejector elements mounted proximate said first series of cardgroups and for predeterminately and selectively controlling theenergization of solenoids adapted to control the position of ejectorelements mounted proximate said second series of card groups, and meansfor selectively energizing either a predetermined solenoid associatedwith one of the card groups of said first series, or a predeterminedsolenoid associated withone of the card groups of said 'second series,or a solenoid associated with said other group of cards.

DAVE FLEISCHER.

